From winning, to sucking, to realizing it really didn't suck because in hindsight, it's just another bike race.

I won a bike race last week. Great. I did poorly at a race this past weekend...not so great. In the moment it sucked; it felt like a sh*tty day. However, my day wasn't all that bad afterall because for many yesterday, it was the end of the world...at least for now. It might get better for most as time goes by, as they always say, time heals. But for some people, some might not be able to run again, some might not want to run again, some might not want to race again, some might not bring their children or loved ones to another race again, and for a few families, some will never see their loved ones again. Who knows what the future holds, but THAT is a sh*tty day.

An 8-year old boy died in the Boston bombings. "Reports say he was running back from trying to give his dad a high five when the first bomb went off." How do you fathom that? Just sit back and think about it.

Everyone that has trained for a marathon, Ironman, or any other event requiring extensive training, knows what it takes to get to that start and finish line. It takes hard work, dedication, support from friends and family, because we all know it's not an easy journey. That final moment when they cross the finish line with the feeling of relief and euphoria. That feeling that they have finally accomplished what they have worked so hard for...to finally share that joy with their loved ones. That moment was taken away and destroyed for this boy's father and family. Father crosses the finish line, his son running towards him to congratulate his father, a champion and winner through his son's eyes. Imagine that. Those of you with kids, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, siblings, parents, fellow competitors, etc...this tragic event hits close to home. Way too close.

At the end of the day, crossing the finish line in Boston for the majority wasn't all that important anymore. Now, that sucks. Yesterday sucked. People's lives, hard work, and feelings of accomplishment were shattered to pieces. But as Fit Chick of Bicycling Mag says, "we are bigger and stronger and greater than the evil that reined down on Boston’s finish line." Together, we will figure out a way to fight this evil because we all know that winning and losing are all part of the game.